Bearing



' Aug. 12, 1924. I 1,504,738

E. H. BROWN BEARING Filgd Oct. 4, 1922 Patented Aug. 12, 1924i.

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EDWIN H. BRO'WN, 0F MILWAUKEE, "WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOB TO ALLIS-CHALMERS MANUFACTURING ooivrranv, nnnnwaran.

0F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A. CORJPORATION' 0F BEARING.

Application filed. October 4, 1922. Serial No. 592,207.

sarily or preferably exposed to artificial heat.

An object of the invention is to provide simple rent or the like.

It is often desirable in constructing various machines such as steam turbines, to so arrange various elements of the structure that one or more of the bearings are'ex' posed to artificial relatively intense heat such as the heat of radiation from a steam conduit or the heat of conduction from relatively hot turbine structure. located directly adjacent to the bearing or bearings. It has heretofore been common practice to cool bearings thus exposed by means of water jackets. While the'prior water cooling sys terms are relatively effective, they are also relatively complicated and expensive because of the multiplicity of conducting pipes, complicated valves, water tight jackets and relatively complicated circulating means required therein for the purpose of producing a continuous circulation of cooling water. The water cooling systems are also objectionable since they require the provision of a fresh supply of cool water in order to maintain eflicient operation. The present invention contemplates provision of simple, eflicient and compact means for cooling a bearing which is subjected to artificial heat,

by circulating a continuous current of cool air about the hearing. The invention also contemplates improvements in bearing structures and cooling systems therefor, which will be apparent in the course of the following description.

A clear conception of an embodiment of the invention and of the operation of a cooling system constructed in accordance therewith, may be had by referring to the draw accompanying and forming apart of and eflicient means for cooling a' bearing structure w1th the aid of an a1r curthis specification, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is a central vertical section through a steam turbine having a bearing associated directly with a relatively hot turbine rotor casing and located directlyabove and closely adjacent to the steam inlet leading to the turbine, the bearing being provided with an improved cooling system utilizing air as a cooling agency.

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section through the unit disclosed in Fig. 1, the section being taken along the line II-II of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow.

The steam turbine unit illustrated in the drawing comprises generally a blade carryingrotor 3 secured to a horizontal main shaft 2 which is mounted in bearings 5, 6

supported directly from a stationary lower casing 16. The portion of the casing 16 adjacent to the rotor 3, is provided with an upwardly removable casing cover 4: for permitting free access to the rotor 3 and other internal turbine structure. The bearings 5, 6 are likewiseprovided with upwardly removable covers for permitting access to the bearings. The end of the main shaft 2 adjacent to the bearing 5 projects beyond the bearing and is provided with a direct connected speed governor 10. The removable bearing cap 21 of the bearing 5 is extended to also provide an upwardly removable cover for the speed governor 10, the cover 21 cooperating with the lower casing 16 to form an annular chamber 12 surrounding the gov ernor 10. Because of the fact that the easing and bearing covers 4:, 21 are freely removable to permit inspection of the interior mechanism, the steam inlet 7 for admitting steam to the turbine rotor 3 is preferably located below the bearing 5 and shaft 2. The steam inlet 7 is controlled by means of a valve 19 operable by the governor 10 through. connections 20. The valve 19 controls the delivery of steam to the rotor 3 through the nozzles 8, and the stationary casing 16 is provided with a suitable exhaust passage 9. for discharging the spent steam.

In order to prevent the heat of radiation from the steam inlet 7 and the heat of conduction from the rotor chamber of the casthe bearing 5, a suitable cooling system is provided. his cooling system comprises a 21 and of the stationary through into the annular space 12. The 10.

'13; in the casing fan 11 attached directly to and rotatable with the governor 10; A plate 17 attached to the adjacent ends of the bearing cover 7 casing 16 has a central annular opening 18 forming an inlet passage for the fan 11. The fan 11 is passing therelower portionof the stationary casing adjacent to the bearing and governor is provided with an outer curved sheet metal casing'll forming an elongated horizontal duct which communicates at one end with the annular chamber 12: through passages 16 The opposite end of theelongated horizontal duct formed by the casing 14 communicates with the atmosphere through air dischargev openings 15 formed in the casing 16, the passages 15* being formed, to direct the discharged air upwardly between the covers 4, 21.

During'normal operation of the turbine,

being admitted to nozzle 8, valve 19 the horizontal shaft 2 and the governor'lO the end" of the bearing fi which is adjacent to the heated rotor chamber.

which "is directly connected to the shaft 2. The governor 10 during this rotation, functions to control the speed of the unit by ad justing the inlet Valve 19 through the connections20. V a 4 As the governorlO is rotated, the fan 11 carried by the end of the governor casing, draws cool airthrough the inlet opening 18 and delivers tl e air into the. annular chamber 12. From the annular chamber 12 the current of air passes downwardly through the openings 13 and; into the duct formed by the casing 14:. The air after passing along the underside of" the bearing 5 through the casing 14 is delivered to the atmosphere through the openings 15 and past closely The continuous current of cool air thus deliv- Vered around the governor casing, below the ceedingly simple cu'lating the cooling air,

'wardly from the steam'inlet 7 heat of conduction 'and' radiation from the bearing'5 and past the turbine end of the bearing 5', veffectively prevents overheating of the bearing 5 by the heat radiating upand by the rotor chamber. The fan 11 provides exand eflicient means for cirthe power required to operate the. relatively small fan being i insignificant.- -It-will be'noted that with a. unit in ranged ashereinishownand described, the

1 steam inlet may readily be'located below 7 the main shaft 2and associated directly with. the stationary lower turbine casing 16' at the'most convenient place, without'danger of overheating the p 7 bearings. The steam inlet is: preferably associated with the stamatic in operation and extremely simple and compact in construction, eliminating necessity of providing special piping, water tight jackets and complicated valves. \Vhile the invention has been illustrated as being embodied in a unit having a horizontal shaft, it will be obvious that features of the invention are also capable of embodiment in units which are otherwise disposed.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact details of construction and of operation herein shown and described, for various modifications within the scope of the claims may occur to persons skilled in the art;

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In combination with a steam turbine having a stationary lower casing, a bearing secured to an end of said casing, and removable caps coacting with said casing and bearing, of a steam supply conduit located beneath said bearing and communicating with said casing, means forming a confined cooling duct extending horizontally between said bearing and said conduit, and a fan operable by said turbine: to produce a flow of air through said duct.

2. In combination with a steam turbine having a stationary lower casing, a bearing secured to and spaced from an end of said casing, and removable caps coacting with said casing and bearing, of a steam supply conduit located beneath said bearing and communicating with said casing, means forming a confined cooling duct extending horizon-tally between said bearing and said conduit and upwardly between said casing and bearing, and a fan operable by said turbine to produce a flow of air through said duct.

3. In combination with a steam turbine having a stationary lower casing, a bearing securedto an end of said casing, a speed regulator adjacent to said bearing, and removable caps coacting with said casing and bearing and enclosing said regulator, of a steam supply conduit located beneath said bearing and communicating with said casing, means forming a confined cooling duct extending horizontally below said regulator and between said bearing and said with said casing and bearing and enclosing said regulator, of a steam supply conduit located beneath said bearing and eommunieating with said casing, detachable means i forming a confined cooling duet extending horizontally below said regulator and between said bearing and said conduit and upwardly between said casing and bearing, I

and a fan operable by said turbine to pro duee a flow of air around said regulator and through said duet. v

In testimony whereof, the signature of the inventor is affixed hereto.

EDWIN H. BROWN. 

